Overview
- Researcher Pierre-Alexandre Metral counts 186, mostly very small, French ski areas that have already ceased operations for economic reasons.
- The former ski area spans roughly 1,500 to 2,000 meters in elevation, where the municipality reports increasingly uncertain snow.
- Eight lifts last ran in 2017–2018, their removal was approved in September 2024, and the work is slated to take about two months with partial reuse of materials.
- Local tourism is pivoting to hiking, climbing, mountain biking, snowshoeing and ski touring.
- Environmental group Mountain Wilderness welcomed the plan, saying it has removed about 20 abandoned lifts and estimates roughly 100 more are unused and rusting in France.